Centre for Global eHealth Innovation: Hacker, Software Generalist, Researcher

The Personal Health and Information Technology department at the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation is looking for a Hacker / Software Generalist / Researcher:

Every member of our tightly knit development team has full input into every stage of project architecture, design and implementation. We own our projects and get shit done that has real, meaningful and measurable impact on sick people’s lives.

• Have enough experience in Java to be sick of it
• Have experience with the JBOSS stack
• Have professional experience with a dynamic language such as Ruby or Python or Javascript
• Be a UNIX weenie
• Have open source contributions they can show us
• Have mobile app development experience, on any combination of the iPhone, Android and Blackberry platforms, or on Titanium, PhoneGap, or other cross platform tools
• Be comfortable working in a Scrum process
• Be fanatical about testing

Grant McInnes, who sent in the posting, adds:

we do everything from hardware development, up the stack through software development, to UX evaluation and finally randomized controlled trials on the built products

The Good
It sounds like a great cause:

We have good results. In a randomized controlled trial, our applications have been shown to significantly improve heart failure outcomes, in patients with Congestive Heart Failure. In another we’ve demonstrated a 10 point drop in blood pressure for hypertensive patients

How often do you get to look at a software job where you can contribute to saving lives?

It also sounds like they use a fair number of technologies and have pretty sound processes. There’s not a ton of detail there, but what’s there sounds good.

YMMV
Who is the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, to which the Personal Health and Innovation department belongs, anyway?

The Centre for Global eHealth Innovation is “a joint effort of UHN and the University of Toronto and was built with funds from the Canadian government, through the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Ontario Innovation Trust”. Phew. And then of course the UHN is itself a bunch of different entities working together. The Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Innovation Trust are both government organizations created to foster innovation at the Federal and Provincial levels. So, basically, take a university, several hospitals, two branches of government and assorted others and put them together and you have the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation.

It sounds like the possibilities for endless meetings, paperwork and mayhem abound without even talking about how Conway’s Law fits into this. Of course, universities, governments and hospitals can be fulfilling places to work, so maybe your mileage may very a little, and you’ll find the combination appealing. It sounds a little scary to me.  The posting talks about some of the upside of this arrangement:

Being in a research environment, we are able to concentrate on this goal without being distracted by short term profit motives, or keeping investors happy.

The Location
Sounds like they’re in the Toronto General Hospital, over by MaRS, Hospital Row, etc. There are restaurants and shops around, although it’s not overflowing with great eats and hip places from my limited experience in the area. It’s very transit-accessible, but it’s not ideal for go train (you’d want to take the subway, at least in winter) or driving. The location is probably neither off-putting nor exciting for most of you. On the upside, you could take in events at MaRS pretty easily.

What’s Missing
What’s the compensation like for a Researcher at the Centre for eHealth Innovation? What’s the size and composition of the team? How would you fit into it? What’s that crazy organizational structure like in practice — does it get in the way or is it something that you’re barely aware of?

Is there a particular project that you’d be starting on? What are the technologies and platforms you’d likely be working with right away and what is the mix going to be like over the long haul?

What are their development practices like? There’s a mention of Scrum, but in practice companies vary quite a bit. It’s hard to get too deep into specifics without knowing more about the technological mix but: do they do pairing? Do they use digital issue tracking or card boards (kanban, etc)? Is there a build? Continuous integration? How often are deployments/releases made? What’s the workspace like?

Maybe Grant can answer some of these here, but these are the kinds of questions you might consider asking them yourself.

In Summary
If you’re looking for a good cause with decent technology and practices, this sounds like it’s worth further investigation.

CPNI: Manager of Software Development

CPNI is looking for a Manager of Software Development:

We are seeking top candidates for the position of a hands-on Agile Software Manager to Lead and Mentor a Team of Java Software Developers. The position is of prime importance to the company; the selected candidate will be responsible for development of new products or extensions of existing products. The Manager of Software Development will receive specifications from the Product Management Team and translate them into software fully and thoroughly QA tested and delivered to the Operations Team.

This might be a replacement to this earlier role that CPNI posted.

The Good
A friend interviewed there once, suggested that the people he spoke to seemed intelligent, that the interview process at least was thorough and seemed solid.  They seem to be agile, which I find appealing.  Their technology stack sounds like it has some reasonable points, although there’s not a lot of detail there.  There also seems to be some mobile work, even though it’s J2ME.  Mobile payments is certainly a space that people continue to believe will grow, although it still hasn’t gathered a lot of traction in North America.

Rumors
A source implied that he/she couldn’t come to terms on payment with CPNI, so their pay scale might not be the best in Toronto.  Then again, this is a pretty senior role, so it might be better-compensated.  A recent commenter suggested that he/she would rather have ebola than work for CPNI again.  There’s not a lot of information in that comment and I’m pretty sure it’s hyperbole, so it’s hard to read much into it, but it’s a pretty passionate statement.  In response to that comment, someone I know contacted me directly to suggest that that comment is ‘unfair’.  While he/she didn’t provide much additional detail, “definitely better than ebola” was made clear.

The Bad
As far as mobile work goes, J2ME is increasingly not seen as the area of expansion, with Android and iPhone capturing a lot of attention.   I’m personally not fond of using EJB, although if it’s EJB 3.x, I might consider it tolerable.

What’s Missing
What’s their approach to agile?  What are they using for web services?  What’s the compensation like at CPNI?  What’s the size and composition of the team?  How is CPNI doing in the mobile payment marketplace, and what are the challenges they and their products currently face?  Why are they looking for another dev manager already?

YMMV
Your mileage may vary when it comes to Fitnesse; it was de rigeur in agile shops for a while, but it’s never really excited me.  Then again, a company that takes testing seriously is always a good thing.  And then, your mileage will vary if you need to drive out to …

The Location
CPNI’s out at 427 and Burnhamthorpe, which is not a particularly exciting neighbourhood.  If you’re already in the west end of the subway line, the transit route might not be that much worse than downtown, and if you’re west and used to driving, it might be fine, but for most of the rest of the city, it’s pretty far west.  I commuted from the east end to an office north of there for a few months for a contract, and I can’t say that I’d be anxious to do it again, all other things being equal.

In Summary
This is a fairly senior role for a company that claims to be operating in an agile way.  If you want to be in a management position at an agile shop, and the location doesn’t throw you, then this would probably be worth a look.  Try to coax additional information out of past employees who might give you a better sense for some of the rumors above.

socialDeck: Rockstar Engineer

socialDeck is looking for a Rockstar Engineer:

We’re building a platform for cross platform gaming — technology that enables games to be played between mobile and the web. Think playing games from your iPhone to Facebook to BlackBerry to MySpace.

We are looking for the brightest and most talented software engineer who will work with the platform team on building out our gaming platform in the cloud.

He/she will design and implement highly-scalable server systems to connect to the world’s most popular networks.

He/she will also be involved in building our client frameworks for iPhone, BlackBerry, Facebook, and Android.

The Good
They’ve got a pleasant web presence and decent press. They’re in an interesting/growing space: mobile / web social gaming. They seem to be taking a bit of a product angle with their talk of ‘a platform’.

Sounds like they’re funded, with nice space. The technology stack sounds reasonable, and the technology would probably be varied and interesting. And, frankly, it’s games. Working on games can be fun.

The Bad
They’re a startup, so odds are good that they’re not paying terribly well, although you’d have to inquire to find out.

Also, someone stop these people before they make another video. Teach them how to use screencasting software instead of a handheld cam pointed at a laptop on an angle.

Heck, I’ll even volunteer to help get ‘em kickstarted. A couple hours with Screenflow and their demo would take on new life.

What’s Missing?
Where are they? What’s this position pay? How many other people work there? How long is their funding good for? What’s involved in the platform, and what’s the expected mix of game/platform development?

YMMV
Your mileage may vary on working for an early-stage startup, especially if the compensation is low.

The Location
Besides ‘King West’, it’s hard to say. Probably a little off the beaten path if you’re not already west of the core, or driving. You’d need to inquire to know more.

In Summary
Game platform and game development on King West for a startup.

Polar Mobile Really Really Wants Software Developers

Polar, or someone working on their behalf, is putting out feelers left right and centre. I don’t know how they deal with the volume of leads this would presumably generate:

 

• careerbuilder/teamrecruiter
• ajilon
• workopolis
• craigslist
• workopolis/sapphire
• datalist/monster
• peoplesource
• sapphire
• … and the list goes on

They are apparently looking to grow significantly during the year, but the sheer volume of posts leading back to the same spot is pretty draining if you’re reading a wide array of feeds.  Historically, I’ve viewed this kind of search behavior as a bad sign.

Unspecified: Contract iPhone Developer

Simple and to the point, this post implies that if you’ve got iPhone experience, they’re willing to pay a good contract rate for your skills.  There’s no information to go on, but if you’ve got the skills, then you could follow up.

I’m inclined to believe that less than fifty percent of these brusque posts are actually a real job with no serious flaws, but I guess for a few areas, like iPhone dev, I could imagine that some of you are willing to take a risk now and again and find out who’s on the other end.

Hobby Job: MacWorld iPhone App Reviewer

If you’re interested in writing short reviews of iPhone apps for a small fee, macworld would like to hear from you.  Seems like the kind of hobby that someone already doing mobile / iPhone development might enjoy doing for relatively limited compensation.

iPhone Technical Lead

Most of the iPhone postings I see in Toronto fall into one of two categories:

• Sketchy: someone wants to do something on the iPhone and isn’t at all clear if they have a job, a partnership, or if they’re just harvesting emails for spam.  Too short and lacking in any detail that makes it feel real.
• Partnership:  someone would like you to do all the heavy lifting in return for a percentage of the profit.  Often, it’s not clear what the poster is bringing to the relationship.  Most of the time, I’d say if coding for free in return for some of the profit interests you, you’d be better off setting out on your own, or with people you know and trust, rather than some dude on Craigslist.

This posting, on the other hand, is pretty low on detail, but carries some vague verisimilitude with respect to a job posting.  It’s possible that there’s someone on the other end who actually wants to hire you and pay you a salary.  There’s nowhere near enough detail to be sure, bu t it’s still a step up from most.  There’s still not enough for a full writeup, but if you’ve got iPhone experience and you’d like to move into an iPhone-related employment, this might be worth further investigation.

Unspecified: Senior Java Developer

Stoakley-Dudley Consultants is helping an unspecified company look for a Senior Java Developer:

Our client is a leading solutions provider specializing in enterprise architecture, systems integration and internet applications. This client seeks the services of an experienced Senior Java Developer looking for an opportunity to apply their programming skills and adaptability to help solvereally interesting challenges.

The preferred candidate will work closely with Team Leads and Business Analysts to understand requirements and implement maintainable and testable software using web development tools. Your experience using J2EE tools to develop complex web applications will be an essential asset. Knowledge of WebLogic and other web application server technologies, the Struts framework and related tools, as well as experience with user interface development and deployment will also be important attributes.

The Good
The technology stack seems like a reasonable one, and there’s more detail on the technology than many postings, particularly recruiter-based ones.  If mobile application development plays a reasonable part of the role, it could be an interesting sector.  The emphasis on RESTful services instead of the WS-DeathStar implies a company with a sensible, simple take on architecture.  If the compensation really is attractive (which for a role like this, should be at least $80k, I’d say, and possibly higher), then it could be a good fit for someone looking to fill a senior developer role.

The Bad
What’s there is pretty good, which means that what’s bad is primarily the fact that there’s so much missing.  I might switch one or two of those technologies (Struts, Ant) for something else, but those are fairly minor quibbles.

What’s Missing
Almost everything except the technology stack and a little bit about the role.  What’s the company?  Is it a startup, and if so, what’s the funding situation?  If it’s not a startup, what’s the revenue and burn rate, and how has that changed with the downturn?  What do they do, and how does that connect to mobile development?  What projects would you be working on?  What’s the size and composition of the team or teams on which you’d be working?  Where is this company located?  What’s the process like?  

YMMV
Your mileage may vary when it comes to responding to a positino with such limited detail and working with a recruiter.

In Summary
A decent recruiter posting; what’s there is reasonable, although there’s a lot missing.  If you’re looking for a Sr. Java position, this might be worth further investigation to see if the missing details are interesting.

Unspecified: VP of Product Management

There hasn’t been many interesting detailed posts lately, so I’m going to look at a few positions that I might not otherwise.  Robert Half is helping an unspecified company look for a VP of Product Management:

Our client located in the financial district of downtown Toronto is seeking a VP of Product Management to lead their product strategy and service delivery activities in the mobile commerce space. The ideal candidate will define the product strategy, tactical direction and roadmap to support our three lines of business: over-the-air payment services, Near Field Communication (NFC) services and mobile wallet services. 

This could be this initiative?  Or Enstream?  Hard to say.  Not much to go on, but it’s a senior role in an emerging space, so it can’t be all bad.

Unspecified: Mobile Application Testing

Innovoice is helping an unspecified company look for someone who can help them with mobile application testing:

The successful candidate will be experienced with wireless technologies and specifically with an understanding of the application technologies that reside in mobile handsets and other wireless devices. The candidate should also be able to assess these technologies from the perspective of company business objectives and strategies, and not just a technical standpoint. 

The candidate will be a member of the Terminal Certification Lab and, as such, will develop, maintain and execute the test plans pertaining to applications on our PCS and iDEN product portfolio. He/she will also contribute to the development of processes, methodologies, testing techniques and product development. 

Roles/Responsibilities: 

• Conduct the execution of test plans for client applications and services; 
• Develop and evolve the test plans pertaining to the handset client applications (e.g., MMS, WAP, content download/streaming, Java™ ME, Video, LBS); 
• Contribute to the development and evolution of testing methodologies – execution, verification/validation, reporting (e.g. automation, centralized issue management); 
• Contribute to the development and evolution of the processes and procedures required to integrate with multiple functional groups; 
• Assist in the early evaluation of candidate handsets for suitability in entering the certification cycle; 
• Stay current with testing methodologies and standards relating to the wireless industry; 
• Stay current with wireless technologies associated with service offerings (e.g., MMS, WAP, content download/streaming, Java™ ME, Video, LBS); 
• Assess and prepare test materials relating to new technologies identified as necessary for implementing new service offerings; 
• Operate computers, servers, test equipment, diagnosis software and test automation software, as applicable to the execution of the test plans and methodologies. 

Although the company is unspecified, a quick google search implies that this might be Telus.  In which case, it might be interesting to note that Telus is opening a new office at 25 York Street, right by Union Station.

The Good
Mobile has been a growth area for some time and it seems like it’s likely to remain one in the years to come.  It could be both interesting and technically challenging, and it sounds like this is likely to be with one of the big carriers, if not, in fact, Telus.  Working out good ways to test location-based services, video, Java applications, messaging and so forth is a pretty wide range of activities that could be challenging and varied.

The Bad
The technologies they mention specifically, CDMA and iDEN are not the technology on which Bell and Telus seem to have pinned their long-term hopes.  As Telus and Bell start migrating away from CDMA, will your role need to shift, or are you being tied to the technology they’re looking to replace?

They’re not looking for much experience; does that mean it’s not a particularly senior role and won’t be well-compensated, or does that simply mean they’re accepting of a wide range of experiences and willing to pay accordingly?  It seems like they’re open to people with advanced skillsets, so I’d hope the latter.

What’s Missing
What’s the company, is it Telus, or something else?  Where would the job be, at 25 York Street, Scarborough, or somewhere else?  Who would you be reporting to and working with?  What would the local organization structure around you be?  What’s the compensation like?  What’s the process?  How serious are they about test automation — are you likely to be spending a lot of your time manually testing handsets?

YMMV
Your mileage may vary when it comes to working in testing; when I last ran a role survey of my readers, there weren’t many looking for testing/qa roles.  Then again, if I don’t post interesting testing roles when I find them, it’ll stay that way.

In Summary
If you’re interested in a testing role, this sounds like an interesting and varied role that might be worth further examination.